1.  Call to order - 5:45 p.m.

2.  Roll Call- All members present.

SFPUC Staff present- Bonnie Jones, Tom Franza, Bill Keaney, Arleen Navarret, Tommy Moala,      Herb Dang, Tyrone Jue, Bob Hickman and Iris Martin Lopez

Members of the public- Laurie Schoeman, Geoff Potter and Emeric Kalman

City Attorney- Absent

3.  Minutes- January minutes were approved.

4.  Public Comment
Laurie Schoeman with Literacy for Environmental Justice expressed interest in doing a future presentation for the WWCAC on her Living Classroom project.   The Living Classroom project will be a self-sustaining environmental center and demonstration greenhouse located in the southeast sector of the City at Heron’s Head Park.  It will promote green technologies, which will include alternative wastewater treatment systems.

Geoff Potter with the San Francisco Baykeeper asked for a copy of the SWAle Report.  The Chair will provide Mr. Potter with a copy of the report and would like to hear more about Bay vs. Ocean.

5. Discussion on the Wastewater Enterprise (WWE) Emergency Response Procedures- Tommy Moala WWE’s Operations Manager and Herb Dang WWE’s Maintenance Manager gave an in-depth discussion on WWE’s emergency response protocol.  In 2006, Tommy went to New Orleans to help with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. He explained that since the affects of Hurricane Katrina, all of WWE’s operations and maintenance staff is Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certified and trained for incident command.  Every other week staff including the   City’s Distribution Division participates in incident command training courses.  Explaining further Tommy states, if an emergency situation did occur WWE would set-up food trailers and a rescue vehicle for disaster victims. 

WWE is currently in the process of organizing the following:

• Ordering a global positioning system (GPS) phones for operations and maintenance staff.
  
• Looking into pay for their employees during an emergency situation (New Orleans Katrina workers did not get paid for six months)
  
• Setting up an Emergency Response Center at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant. This will be funded out of the Repair and Replacement Program. 
  
• Deputy Chief Greg Suhr, SFPUC’s Director of Homeland Security is organizing a water and wastewater emergency plan.
  
• Every three months, WWE’s Operations and Maintenance staff will endure in full incident command training (scenario dry-runs).
  
• All WWE staff will be provided with a red emergency bag that is filled with materials needed during a disaster.

Questions and Comments on the WWE’s Emergency Response Protocol
The WWCAC members made the following comments:

• Regarding first responders, do majority of the staff live in San Francisco or the East Bay? Majority of staff lives outside of the City.  Herb Dang commented during the 1989 Earthquake staff was able to get back into the City with no problems.
  
• Is there transportation for out of town employees?  There is a helicopter.  If an emergency incident did occur, there will be ways for staff to get the Emergency Center.
  
• When is there minimal staff? During the graveyard shift.
  
• Inquired if the emergency food rations get changed out?  They are ready to eat meals.
  
• Will the emergency vehicle be located at the Southeast Plant? Yes.
  
• During an emergency will SFPUC have entire control of the wastewater system?  Tom Franza, Assistant General Manager, Wastewater Enterprise responded that if there was a big event the City and County of San Francisco or the State of California will have control of the situation, SFPUC will provide help wherever it is needed. 
  
• Can the WWCAC help if there is a disaster?  Are there trainings?  Staff advised WWCAC to sign up for a Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) Training course.
  
• Commented that the Chair should organize a full body CAC NERT training course.  Chair said he would look into it.
  
• Asked Tommy Moala and Herb Dang to come back to give an annual update.
  
• Geoff Potter asked if there is a centralized communication base?  Since Hurricane Katrina, WWE has purchased push to talk phones for their operations and maintenance staff.  In the event of an emergency situation the GPS phones will assist staff in locating each other.

No action was taken

6. SF Sewer System Master Plan Update/Recap of Public Workshops
*The current main focus of the Master Plan is cost and evaluation criteria.

• Jon Loiacono, Project Manager for the Master Plan will provide the WWCAC members with a draft at the end of March.
  
• WWE held a 2nd round of public workshops for the Master Plan in January in Downtown, Bayview and North Beach area.  
  
• Public workshops were a mid-season report on the Master Plan. Not well attended at the Bill Graham and Telegraph Hill. 
  
• Staff is currently working on 2nd public input report.
  
• There is still a lot of concern with the Southeast Plant.
  
• The next round of workshops will consist of wastewater 101.

Questions and Comments on the SF Sewer System Master Plan Update
The WWCAC members made the following comments:

• Will the Sustainable Watershed Alliance (SWAle) letter be incorporated in the report?  Staff agrees with the specifics of the report.  Staff is not there yet with the Master Plan; currently in the planning stages.
  
• Do you have a gradual increase to the secondary treatment goals?  WWE is currently maxed out on secondary treatment goals; however, the collections side will define cost and determine projects.
  
• Inquired if staff is still considering site criteria?  Jon Loiacono responded that there are more than 4 alternative options to reduce combine sewer discharges.
  
• The members expressed that now is the best time to look at additional site locations.
  
• Concerned that staff is looking for site locations too late.  Sites should be included in the March report.  Jon commented that it is hard to find 40-acre site locations in the City.
  
• Advised staff to look into Port Property?  Staff will have to work with the Port.
  
• Asked staff to provide a formal written response to the SWAle letter.
  
• Advised staff to ask the opinion of the public at future workshops.
  
• Inquired about the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) if there will be more meetings? Yes, the next meeting will be held on May 15th (details will be provided later).
  
• Asked about the additional meeting that took place after the Bayview public workshop?  Bonnie Jones said that the meeting went well.  The attendees asked if the presentation could be translated into Chinese.  Tyrone Jue stated at future workshops there would be Chinese translated slides of the presentation.

Emeric Kalman asked how many alternatives are being considered and if they include storm water collection?  There are 4 proposed alternatives, which will be looking into taking storm water out of the sewer system and reducing combine sewer discharges.

No action taken

7. Wastewater Enterprise (WWE) Update - Bonnie Jones with WWE stated that the SFPUC had met with Solano County in regards to the Biosolids Ordinance.  The meeting went well, with a possibility of extending the ordinance.  Complaints in Solano County have been reduced and last year the SFPUC only received 18.  The SFPUC and Solano County will meet in July to discuss Biosolids land application.

Questions and Comments on the WWE Update
The WWCAC members made the following comments:

• Did you do your second year of mercury levels testing? Bonnie expressed that the test showed more of a reduction in effluent than in Biosolids.  Started methanol mercury testing.
  
• How does Solano County feel about Biosolids being there?  The County would like to see the Biosolids leave.  Currently Solano County has a new professional courtesy attitude towards Biosolids.
  
• Have there been any overflows?  In January, Central Basin drainage flow had a minor overflow.
  
• Inquired if there had been any flooding due to the recent rain?  No.
  
• What is the public outreach for the 2008 – 2009 sewer/water rate proposals?  Communications and Finance will be doing a series of road shows s through out the City to discuss the proposed rates.  Community presentation list is posted on sfwater.org

No action taken.

8. Discussion on the Wastewater Enterprise Budget for fiscal year 2007 – 2008 Tom Franza, Assistant General Manager (AGM), Wastewater Enterprise gave a detailed discussion on the WWE’s Budget for 2007-2008.
AGM Franza discussed the following:

• The SFPUC Commission had three budget hearings.
  
• On Tuesday, February 13th the Commission approved the WWE’s budget submittals.
  
• The budget submittal process still needs to go through the Mayor and Board of Supervisors.
  
• The budget includes priorities in:
  
• Permit Compliance/Maintenance of public assets
  
• Development of Biofuel program/Increase waste cooking oil collection
  
• Enhance the Fats, Oil and Grease Program Activity
  
• Continue progress on Storm Water Management Program, modeling, Low Impact Design (LID), etc.
  
• Reduction of maintenance backlog
  
• Troubleshoot new North Point Facility configuration
  
• Odor control at pump stations
  
• Improve facility security
  
• Asset Management Development
  
• Continue to work with Human Resource Services on requisition processing improvements.
  
• This year’s budget will be based on engineer analysis and next years will consist of projects.
  
• Will add new positions to Maintenance, Collections Division and Planning, 
  
• AGM Franza will come back to the WWCAC with an update.

Questions and Comments on the WWE’s Budget for 2007 – 2008
The WWCAC made the following comments:

• Explain LID and define projects more.  Will we (WWCAC) see any more demolition projects in the budget?  WWE Planning Division will get $2 Million next budget year. $325, 000 will go to the Department of Public Works for work orders in architecting, eco root development, building, repair and urban forestry.  Staff is currently developing community projects (i.e. doing a demolition project at James Denman Middle School), identifying baseline flow reduction needs and looking into hiring a consultant to develop storm water management policy. 
  
• Asked if the SFPUC has considered doing monthly billings?  Customer Service Bureau is looking at using computer generated bills that maybe sent on a monthly basis.

Laurie Schoeman applauded WWE in general for its responsiveness.

Emeric Kalman requested a copy of the Rate Fairness Board’s February 7th draft report.

9. Upcoming Agenda items
March

• Global Warming (relating to the SF Sewer System Master Plan)
  
• Biofuel Program

April 

• Storm Water Construction Ordinance,
  
• San Francisco State University Groundwater Project,
  
• Low Impact Design Quarterly Update, 
  
• Literacy for Environmental Justice Living Classroom Project
  
• Sustainability/Criteria for the SF Sewer System Master Plan.

***List of Potential Future Agenda Items ***

• Norcal Food Update
  
• Asset Management
  
• Wastewater Enterprise Apprenticeship and Mentorship Programs
  
• Dental Mercury Reduction Update
  
• Mission Creek Corridor Project

10. Adjourned- 7:45 p.m.